Washing machine



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,261

' F. BICKEL WASHING M AAAA NE Filed June 15, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 "1 11 1 1 ,1, 1! 1 11 1.' `1.11 y I 1 1:1 111 41 11I 1 1 `11 1'; 1 1 11 11'1 11 11 11.1 1 11 1 11 11 l Il) 1 1 "1 1 1 11 1 1,. 1 1 1 INVENTOR:

BY ,U/4%

` TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

FREDERICK I.. BICKEL, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to machines adapted vfor washing, bleaching,scouring, dyeing or otherwise treating` fabrics and other mate,- rials,and it has reference more particularly t0 machines including meanswhereby the fabrics or materials under treatment are periodicallycompressed and relaxed so as to alternately expel land absorb thetreating iuidor dye.n y i 1 Y y The primary object of this invention isto provide an improved machine of vthe foregoing referred to typecharacterized certain novel features; to wit, means whereby the fabricbeing treated lis engaged and pushed forward during a portion of theoperation, said means being capable of ,ad-

Justment: means whereby an excess of oxygen may be supplied to themachine when-it is desired to vbleach the fabric or material beingtreated; and means whereby pulsation of thetreating liquor or dye isprevented and the articles under treatment 4more thoroughly. saturated,thereby considerably 'increasing the efliciency of the machine.

In addition tothe foregoing this invention comprehends improvements inthe details of construction and arrangement of the correlated parts ofwhat I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention lfromamong other possible forms and arrange` ments embraced within the spiritof said invention and the scope of the appended claims. i

Briefly summarized, my present invention consists of a vat or tubfit-ted. with an oscilla-` tory diaphragm adapted to periodically sweepthe curved bottom thereof, said bottom including a perforate corrugatedAsection that offers resistance to the material being moved thereoverwhereby the greater amount of absorbed liquid is expelled at eachsuccessive active motion of the oscillatory diaphragm.

In the further disclosure of the invention respectively, as well as theupper frontal 1.923. seriai No. 645,162.

piece Aor plate hereinafter more particularly described.

According to the form of my invention illustrated I construct arectangular framework 4 convenientlyl of angle section material yandcomprising spaced verticale 5, 5 braced by upper and lower ties 6, 7respectively ;4 while each of the aforesaid verticals 5, 5 is fitted atits ,lower end with a swiveling castor 8 or the like whereby movement inany desired lateral direction can be easily accomplished. The vat or tub9 is constructed of non-corrodible sheet material, and, as best seen inFig. II, its cross-sectional configuration is substantially that of aquadrant bounded by end walls 10, 10, a curved bottom 11, terminating atthe fronty of the machine above its vertical center, and a back wall 12the lowerv part 13 whereof. Ydeiec-ts outwardly in a plane substantiallyparallel with a radius through the aforesaid vertical center. This vator tub 9 is conveniently strengthened and braced at its back wall 12 bya transverse reinforcement 14 whereby adequate support is afforded'forthe spigots 15, 15, as will be readily understood by those conversantwith the art. The upper ends of the aforesaid back and end walls 12 and10,

part of the curved bottoni 11 are transversel 85 extended to provide arigid top 16 the per1- metric edges whereof are folded under at 17 andriveted or otherwise xedly secured to the lateral iianges of theaforesaid upper ties 6.

A removable cover 18 conveniently of sheet metal hollow constructionforthe sakev of lightness and rigidity-is adapted to seat by means of'aperimetrical flange 19 in the open topV of the vat or tub 9 whereby themachine may be utilized as a table or support, and in order toY ensurethe'necessary rigidity said tubor vat 9 is braced by a plurality of stayrods 20. K

The curved bottom 11 of the vat or tub 9 1,00v is pocketed to provide asubdivision affording a by-'pass 21 for a circulatory purpose, as willbe more definitely explained later.

The sub-division is effected partly by a corrugated sheet metal liner orfalse bottom 22 105 suitably spaced and supported by wooden bearers 23from the curved bottom 11, and a correlated sheet metal liner or falsebottom 24; likewise supported by wooden bearers 25 and it will bereadily seen on an examination of Figs. I and II that said false bottoms22, 24 substantially close in that part of the curved bottom 11established by the pocket or by-pass 21. The troughed channels of thecorrugated sheet metal liner or false bottom 22 are pierced by a seriesof drain apertures 26 as indicated in Fig. II.

In the course of the treating operation, as practised according to myinvention, the

material under treatment is subjected to the action of an oscillatingdiaphragm 27, suspended by means of arms 28, from a rock shaft 29. Thisrock shaft 29 is journalled in the end walls 10 of the vat. or tub 9 ata point somewhat forward of the back wall 12,l while it will be notedthat when the diaphragm 27 is at its extreme inward position as bestseen by Fig. II-that it is located in close juxtaposition andsubstantially parallel with the hereinbefore referred to inclined lowerpart 13 of the back wall 12, with the resulting formation of a divergentinterspace 30 that functions to quell turbulence and splashing as laterexplained, as well as aording a sufficient clearance for the spigots 15,15.

During operation, the lower end of the oscillating diaphragm 27arcuately sweeps very close to the false bottoms 24 and 22, as well asthe upper frontal part 31 of the curved bottom 11, a gradual but veryslight progressive increase in the interval however taking place due tothe eccentricity of the rock shaft 29, with respect to the center ofcurvature of said false bottoms 24 and 22, and curved frontalportion 31.Thus in swinging upward to its normal limit of oscillation the outer endof the diaphragm 27 moves a little farther away relative to the parts 22and 31, so as to prevent the material treated being pinched between theend of said diaphragm and the corrugations in the part 22.

As a means for oscillating the diaphragm 2 7, I employ a self-containedmechanism which includes an electric motor 32 conveniently supported ona platform 33 transversely mounted in the lower part of the framework 4on the ties or braces 7. This motor 32 may be connected to anyconvenient source of electric energy in the well known way, and in turnit imparts motion through the medium of a belt 34-or other appropri- Yate drive-to a pinion 35, in mesh with a gear 36 splined on one end ofshaft 37 journalled in bearings 38 at the rear of the back wall 12aforesaid. This shaft 37 is fitted at its other end with a crank member39 in turn connected by means of a forked link 40 pivoted at 41 to thelower end of an arcuate arm 42, whereby the rotary motion of saidcrankis translated into and imparts oscillatory movement to the rockshaft 29. This arm 42 has its center of curvature coincident with theaxis of rotation of the gear 36 when said arm is in the retractedposition, and it will be readily understoodv that the amplitude ofoscillation of the diaphragm 27 may be varied by adjusting the pivot 41in the forked end of the link 40 according to the requirements of theparticular use to which the machine is to be put in practice.Furthermore by Vvirtue of its curvature the arm 42 will always come toits limit of retracted movement in the position illustrated; and

it is desired, at this junction, to stress the` tion 47 of the toe-pieceor plate 43 is provided at its ends with pintles 48 supported byappropriate leaves or hinge members 49 conveniently attached to thediaphragm 27. In order that the toe piece or plate 43 may operateautomatically it is influenced by a flat or leaf spring 50 whichnormally tends to maintain said plate in the position shown in Fig. II,while its engaging capacity is adjustable by means of a heel portion orlug 51 slidable through a slot 52 in the diaphragm 27 coacting with theinclined end 53 of a slotted bar V54 guided by a screw or stud 55 andadjustable by means of a wing nut 56 on a screw threaded rod 57 inopposition to a compression spring 58.

The machine is also provided with auxiliaries such as a pivoted checkvalve 59 eX- tending longitudinally of the vat or tub 9 and serviceablein controlling proper circulation of the heating iiuid or dye, and anoutlet 60 for drainage purposes,`said outlet being provided with asuitable closure plug 61.

It is worthy of note that by limiting the extent of the corrugated falsebottom or wash board 22 there is provided a smooth surface 31 over whichthe material or fabric slides after passing said corrugated false bottomwhen the machine is in operation and consequently it does not fallbackwards out of engagement with the toe piece or plate 43. Furthermoreit will be apparent that the toe piece or plate 43 being pivoted by thepintles 48 and normally held forward by the spring 50, when the'diaphragm 27 swings forwards and upwards the tessellated edge 45engages the fabric or material being` treated and causes said plate toswing backwardly and grip the fabric while the rib 46 serves to pushsaid fabric or material forwardly. It is also noteworthy that theV heelor lug 51, operating through the diaphragnr amaai 27 by cio-actionwiththe; end: 53-,ofthe slotted bar 5st,. functions to control: the. degreeof friction imparted to; the fabric kor material being treated.

In operation as the diaphragm 27 moves throughl the active portion of'its. oscillation, inurging the materiat or fabric4 forward and upward,the level of the' treating, fluid risest at the .front` of saiddiaphragm and falls at thev rear of the' same, the resulting differenceofV head causing the displaced fluid to flow downwardly through thelmaterial and perforated false. bottoml 22. y sf the fluid drainsthrough. the material mass, the latter, by virtue of its own. weightunder saturation, settles upon the surface of the false: bottom 22,therebyoffering resistance to being moved by the diaphragm 27. As aconsequencev of this action the lower sur face of the material will begathered and compressed by the co-actionAV of the tessellatedetlg'e'awithy the corrugations in said false bottom into a series of"piaits, `thereby expelling the greater amount ofthe absorbed liquid,while the upper portion: of saidv mass will remain saturated andcomparatively relaxed. Notwithstanding the aforesaid .resistivel actionof the false bottom 22, it

is to be understood that the material mass as a whole is neverthelessshifted to acon-V excess flowing through an` intermediate grilled part6l of said diaphragm onto the materialv mass. This action results in thecascading of the treating fluid oi: dye in a series of streams over theVmaterial being treated and it will'so continue untila state ofequilibrium ofrv the fluid isestablished upon both sides ofthediaphragm27 whereby more thorough oxygenation, or aeration, isobtained. As the diaphragm 27 retracts, hev materiall massdoes not rollback as might beexpected,` becausethe. corrugated false bottom 22prevents any movement of that portion with. which it isin directcontact, and;- therefore, the greater bulk left in a relaxed condition,asabove noted,t breaks or divides substantially at the: center of themassand `fills the interveninggap. This latter action is assisted bythecascadingof the fluid or dye through the grilled opening 6a in thediaphragmi 27. as already described.

Furthermore, I have found that it is inipossible to scour-goods in aclosed tub or vat, and that it is necessary to drive the fabrics ormaterials so treated out of theV fluid so as to absorb air, while saidfluid should pass throughv air and be aerated or charged with oxygen toensure proper bleaching. In this attachment I fit a perforatedconnection or box 62 near the upper the diaphragm Y l front, whichextends-the full width of the as follows: the drain isopened by elevation of the plug 61 while thetub or vat 9 is kept in mot-ion', and assoon as saidy tub or lvatis drained the vacuum pump is started thusexposing all surfaces -of thel goods` under treatment'to the. action ofsaid vaciie um, whereby the. usev of a centrifugal extractor is avoided,

@n the other hand when dyeing materials in my machine the conditionsaboveset forth are reversed; or, in other words, it becomes necessary tosqueeze the materials under the liquid so as to absorb'the bath and notthe air.

It is noteworthy that the backward inclination of the lower part 13materially increases 'the efficiency of myy machine as it ensures aneffective cascading and constant circulation of the fluid through the'material mass as will be perfectly obvious without further explanation.

Froml the foregoing, it will.y be seen that by the co-operation of theseveral associated elements, whichconstitute my inventi0n,.not onlyisthe fluid caused to' circulate through tliefinateriah, but the'position ofthe latter is continuously shifted and at the same timesubjected to .a compressive action/,i which en,- sures thoroughpermeation without causing any tanGling and injury resulting directlytherefrom.

Still further it is noteworthyV that' the aeration or oxidation of theYmaterial or fabric treated in my improved washing machine isaccomplishedas follows-z- As the diaphragm 27 oscillates it causesthetreating fluid to rise at theback thereof and cascade through thegrilled interval 64 thereby leffecting its lproper aeration.v In effect,the treating fluid is properly imbued with air. while cascading throughthe grilled interval 64. This maintenance of the bath saturated withfresh air has for its object to prevent evaporation of oxygen from thewater or fluid that is held in the material when articles are underbleaching treatment. l

As the material or fabric moves out of the vat or tub 9 into the air inthe turning and opening up process long enough to be cooled somewhat,the water or fluid in said material'or fabric acquires fresh air, randwhen the goods are returned into the bath of treating fluid, there willbe a correlated increase in the quantity of oxygen. 'Io increase thedegree of oxidation fresh air can be admitted from outside the vat ortub 9y through the inlet G2, and not being laden with moisture from thebath, and relatively cooler in temperature, will ensure betteroXidation.

Obviously the invention is susceptible of minor detail changes withoutdeparting from its essential features, therefore the right isaccordingly reserved to make such variations as fairly lie within thescope of the subjoinedY claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim :4

- l. In a machine for treating fabrics coniprising ay receptacle forthe-treating fluid and an oscillatory diaphragm for periodically movingthe fabric under treatment, the combination of a spring influencedangle-section member pivoted on the diaphragm and adapted to engage thefabric during progress out of and into the treating fluid.

2. In a machine for treating fabrics comprising a receptacle for thetreating fluid and an oscillatory diaphragn'i for periodically moving,lthe fabric under treatment, the combination of a spring influencedangle-section member pivoted on the diaphragm and adapted to engage thefabric during progress out of and into the treating fluid, and means forvarying the travel of said member in one direction relative to theoscillatory diaphragm.

3. In a machine for treating fabrics comprising a receptacle for thetreating fluid and an oscillatory diaphragm for periodically moving thefabric under treatment., the combination of a forwardly urgedanglesection member pivoted on the oscillatory diaphragm and adapted toengage the fabric during progress out of and into the treating fluid,and means limiting the travel of said pivoted member in one directionwhereby its influence may be varied.

fl. In a machine for treating fabrics comprising receptacle for thetreating fluid and an oscillatory diaphragm for periodically-moving thefabric under treat-ment, the combination of a forwardly urgedanglesection member pivoted on said oscillatory diaphragm and having thefree edge tessellated, a longitudinal yrib thereunder, a reverselydirected heel on said member, and an adjustable stop for cooperationwith said heel whereby the backward movement of the angle-section membermay loe varied.

5. In a machine for treating fabrics comprising a receptacle for thetreating fluid and an oscillatory diaphragm for periodically moving thefabric under treatment, the combination of a spring influencedanglesection member pivoted on said oscillatory diaphragm and having thefree edge tessellated, a longitudinal rib thereunder, a reverselydirected heel on .said member, and means for co-operation with said heellimiting the travel of the angle-section member in a-rearward Vdirectionwhereby its' influence may be varied.

6. In a machine for treating fabrics, the combination of a tub for thetreating fluid, said tub being of quadrangular cross-section with aVconcentrically spaced corrugated and perforated section mediallythereof, an obtusely angled back in said tub, an oscillatory diaphragmhaving its end movable in closeproximity to the tub bottom and beingadapted to closely approach the angled portion of said back, a. memberhaving a tessellated edge pivotally mounted on the aforesaid diaphragm,means normally urging said member forwardly, and adjustable meanslimiting its movement in a reverse direction. Y

7. In a machine for treating fabrics, the combination of a tub for thetreating fluid,

said tub being of quadrangular cross-section with a concentricallyspaced corrugated and perforated section medially thereof, an obtuselyangled back `in said tub, an oscillatory diaphragm having its endmovable in close proximity to the tub bottom and being adapted toclosely approach the angled portion of said back, an angled memberhaving a tessellated edge pivotally mounted on the aforesaid diaphragm,means normally urging said angled member forwardly, adjustable meanslimiting its movement in a reverse direction, and means to maintainsuction of air above the treating fluid so as toV ensure effectiveaeration.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 8th day of J une, 1923.

y FREDERICK L. Breiten

